CACI wins $42 million Coast Guard subcontract

CACI International Inc. won a 6-year, $42.5 million subcontract from General Dynamics Decision Systems to provide network services support for the U.S. Coast Guard National Distress and Response System Modernization Project, the company announced Nov. 14.

The subcontract also has 13 option years, the company said.

Under the terms of the subcontract, CACI of Arlington, Va., will provide critical network hardware, software and services to help General Dynamics Corp. of Falls Church, Va., modernize the Coast Guard's 30-year-old search-and-rescue communication system and begin deploying a new system known as Rescue 21 in 2002.

CACI's role on the project includes connecting Rescue 21 with the Coast Guard Data Network Plus system, which carries finance, personnel and e-mail services to Coast Guard users worldwide; enhancing network management and help desk services to provide critical diagnostic support to both the prime contractor and the Coast Guard; and obtaining and installing high performance, direction-finding equipment at about 300 Coast Guard locations along the U.S. coastline.

The subcontract award significantly increases the work CACI performs for the Coast Guard and substantially expands its managed network services line of businesses, which is a key strategic area for the systems integrator, company officials said.

CACI's past performance with the Coast Guard on contracts such as Coast Guard Data Network Plus was a key factor in the company's receiving the subcontract, said General Dynamics officials.

The Coast Guard's National Distress System is the radio system that boaters use to communicate with the Coast Guard in emergencies. It is currently effective across 86 percent of the U.S. coastline and interior waterways currently monitored by the Coast Guard. The new system will increase this coverage to 98 percent.

CACI has about 5,700 employees and annual revenue of $681.9 million, according to Hoover's Online of Austin, Texas.